The hand-lettered contents of a nine-year-old girl's notebook, in which she records her thoughts and feelings about moving, starting school, and dealing with her older sister, as well as keeping her old best friend and making a new one.

Fifth-grader Cody Carson keeps a journal of his hopes for a fresh start in a town where nobody knows about his humiliating mistakes of the past, but before school even begins so does his embarrassment.

It's the start of the school year, and nothing feels right to Justin. He is very nervous about third grade. And to top it off, he's lost his favorite stuffed animal, but he can't tell anyone, because technically he's too old to still have stuffed animals. Right?

Eight-year-old Lucy Rose keeps a diary of her first year in Washington, D.C., as she spends time with her grandparents, makes new friends, and longs to convince her teacher to let her take care of the class pet during a holiday.

This story-told entirely through notes, grocery receipts, and a vast array of other items-follows Ginny as she accidently dyes her hair pink, throws live frogs in class, and loses the lead role in ballet to her ex-best friend.

Fourth-graders Hank, Ashley, and Frankie are excitedly preparing for a magic show at the Rock 'N Bowl when Hank's creative alternative to an English essay lands him in detention and grounded the week of the show.

On his first day at Brooklyn's P.S. 858, fifth-grader Michael K. is teamed with two very strange students. While he gradually comes to believe they are aliens who need his help, he has trouble convincing anyone else of the truth.